Homebrew Daspodias Species Details

Bless you now with the gift of haste, 

A labyrinth formed for a world defaced.

Protect the fallen, and contain the conniving,

Until heros return us to a world now thriving.

— Spell of the Confining Labyrinth, Spoken by Master Khellia Delvor .

Born in the wake of the great Jewel War, the great magician, Delvor, thought it pertinent to research the magic hidden within the cliff sides of Mesmereign. He knew within it lay the key to keeping the peace in this new unbalanced world. So with his knowledge, his magic, and his wizarding wife, they burned a hole into the overhanging cliffs that their town lay beneath. Their attempt unearthed a faint portal buried nearly six feet deep into the cliffs. It was stark white and rippling with a gentle golden hue, and from it came forth the strangest creatures they’d ever seen. Bi-pedal creatures that seemed to be a cross between giant ape and armadillo, having thick shell-like skin but also shown walking on both their legs or all fours. Their other defining feature came from their face, which only their beady violet eyes were visible behind their helmet-like carapace. They were furious at these intruders for breaking into their home, but that anger would soon transition after a conversation with the Mesmereign Council of the Arcane later that evening.

Delving Further

At an emergency meeting with the Mesmereign Council Delvor and his wife introduced the three creatures that had appeared. Their names, while not easily translated to common were Amoury, Driyal, Olvener and they were known as the Daspodias, creatures born in the earth to tunnel throughout. The council asked what the Delvor’s were attempting and their story stayed the same. They sought to be able to use the powerful magic within the cliffs to help stave off the monsters that were ravaging the land. The Daspodias looked at them concerned, while they didn’t appreciate being called out of their home, they despised those who would bully those unfit to defend themselves. So between the Delvors, the Council, and the three Daspodias, they formed an idea. A way to trap those monsters within an ever-changing labyrinth. The council would split into three teams. One focused on rounding the creatures up, one focused on working with the Daspodias, and the other was dedicated to planning the labyrinth’s magic. With their plan set in motion, they got to it.

Labyrinth Guardians

The groups tasked with working with the Daspodias had begun working on magic enhancements to their bodies, gifting them a sort of limb and body enhancements that allowed them to dig at great haste. Those working on the spell to manifest an endless labyrinth imbued the magic within the Daspodias’s limb enhancements, meaning they could keep digging and never cross paths with their prior tunnels. This would mean a life of near solitude in order to keep those outside their tunnels safe, but the Daspodias were willing to make said sacrifice. During the year it took to perfect their enhancements, more of the Daspodias came forth, introducing themselves, being outfitted like their primogenitors before them. A year after the labyrinth spell was completed, and the enhancements had been adapted to over 50 Daspodias, their testing was showing nothing but positive results. All that remained was to imbue the magic and round up the monsters, and after a total of five years, it was ready. There were now nearly 200 Daspodias enchanted with magical enhancements, who’d begun their digging. It’d be decided that each of them would work in teams of two, one male and one female, and if any would need help they simply would use a key that would let one leave the dungeon at a door that would be created after every one-hundred miles dug. The plan more than worked, but the sad truth happened once Djinn awoke and his smog filled the skies... no matter what the Daspodias did, they couldn’t leave. They were cursed to be trapped within their own labyrinth until someone could not only open the gateway to the dungeon but also find the legendary beast at its center, the only creature with the counterspell to the Daspodias self-accepted curse. 

Daspodias Names

Daspodias do not have traditional names in any sense, tending to sound more like gravel being ground through a cheese grater. When they are translated to common they can sometimes become more familiar sounding names but most tend to make their own surface names with similar context. 

Their names, as we've found out now, seem to be based on their hierarchy within their communities giving them a title and their name reflecting their eye and skin color. Their names don't seem to indicate gender either.

Daspodias Names: Peasant Purpgol, Workman Greesil, Duke Marocop, Empress Greywhi, Servant Indiyel, for example.

Daspodias Traits

Your Daspodias character has the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Stength score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Daspodias reach maturity around age 20 and can live far into the second century, but have the potential to love further. The oldest recorded was 298. 

Size

Daspodias are a massive creatures with their large torsos and stubbier legs. With these attributes, your size is medium and you tend to weigh around 400 lbs on average. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a burrowing speed of 30 feet.

Dark Vision

You are acclimated to seeing in no lighting, from tunneling, and have developed a sort of dark vision, letting you see body heat when in complete darkness.

Natural Armor

You have a thick iron-like hide. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 15 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Seismic Sensory

You are particularly familiar with the underground. When you make an Intelligence or Wisdom checks related to the underground, add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.